CSPnet - car washhttp://www.cspnet.com/article-keywords/car-wash
enMark VII Expands Direct Sales Teamhttp://www.cspnet.com/category-news/services/articles/mark-vii-expands-direct-sales-team
<div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even" property="rnews:articlebody schema:articleBody"><p><strong>ARVADA, Colo. --</strong> Mark VII Equipment Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of WashTec AG of Germany, the world's largest manufacturer of vehicle cleaning systems, has announced the addition of Jim Rennie to its direct sales team.</p>
<p>Based in Atlanta, Rennie is responsible for sales of Mark VII carwash equipment, service and chemicals throughout Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.</p>
<p>A seasoned sales veteran in the carwash industry, Rennie's previous experience spans 16 years at A.C.E.S., Ryko and Hill &amp; Foss.<br /> "We welcome Jim to the Mark VII team," said Ryan Beaty, executive vice president of sales at Arvada, Colo.-based Mark VII. "His wealth of experience and in-depth knowledge of the Southeast region will be a great asset to continuing our growth in this important market."</p>
<p>Founded in 1966, Mark VII pioneered the touch-free automatic carwash and develops car wash technology and equipment. Following its acquisition by WashTec in 2006, Mark VII completely refreshed its product portfolio and upgraded its manufacturing facilities. Mark VII now sells and services direct in many markets; factory-trained distributors handle indirect markets.</p>
</div></div></div><span property="schema:name" content="Mark VII Expands Direct Sales Team" class="rdf-meta element-hidden"></span><span rel="schema:url" resource="/category-news/services/articles/mark-vii-expands-direct-sales-team" class="rdf-meta element-hidden"></span>Wed, 25 Feb 2015 04:26:48 +0000Greg Lindenberg40934 at http://www.cspnet.comCategory ManagersOperationsCSP Daily NewsCategory NewsServiceshttp://www.cspnet.com/category-news/services/articles/mark-vii-expands-direct-sales-team#commentsWhat's More Fun Than Riding Through a Car Wash?http://www.cspnet.com/category-news/snacks-candy/articles/whats-more-fun-riding-through-car-wash
<div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even" property="rnews:articlebody schema:articleBody"><p><strong>NEW YORK --</strong> Inside the West Side Highway Car Wash in New York City is Underwest Donuts. The doughnut shop, which opened in November 2014, is a venture by former Chanterelle executive sous chef Scott Levine, whose father-in-law owns the car wash, said a report by <em>gothamist</em>.</p>
<p>Inside a hallway next to all the jets of water and squirts of soap, a small manufacturing and retail area offers coffee, tea, juice and soda, and features cake-style donuts made by a Belshaw Adamatic Donut Robut. Like the washing operation, this process is robot-operated.</p>
<p>Initial flavors were "old fashioned" (plain), sugar-coated and glazed. Sugar-coated flavors now include Coco Raspberry, Cinnamon and Espresso Bean; glazed flavors now include Halva, Dark Chocolate, Coconut Lime and Brown Butter.</p>
<p>And it has just unveiled a new flavor--Maple Waffle Donut, which, according to the report, "is intensely maple-y."</p>
<p>In a separate report, amNewYork described it as "a traditional glazed doughnut infused with maple syrups … topped with a Belgian stroopwafel, pecans and maple syrup glaze."</p>
<p><em></em></p>
<iframe align="left" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tLW-hm1MGB4" width="560"></iframe><p>For the full Underwest doughnut-car-wash experience, watch the embedded video. <a href="http://gothamist.com/2015/02/11/underwest_donuts_car_wash.php#photo-1" target="_blank">Click here</a> to view the gothamist <em>reports,</em> <em>and <a href="http://www.amny.com/eat-and-drink/underwest-donuts-waffle-donut-debuts-1.9923396" target="_blank">click here</a> to view the full </em>amNewYork<em> report</em>.</p>
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</div></div></div><span property="schema:name" content="What&#039;s More Fun Than Riding Through a Car Wash?" class="rdf-meta element-hidden"></span><span rel="schema:url" resource="/category-news/snacks-candy/articles/whats-more-fun-riding-through-car-wash" class="rdf-meta element-hidden"></span>Thu, 12 Feb 2015 02:00:47 +0000Greg Lindenberg40796 at http://www.cspnet.comCategory ManagersOperationsCSP Daily NewsCategory NewsSnacks & Candyhttp://www.cspnet.com/category-news/snacks-candy/articles/whats-more-fun-riding-through-car-wash#commentsDanny's Officially Jacksonshttp://www.cspnet.com/mergers-acquisition-growth/mergers-acquisitions-news/articles/dannys-officially-jacksons
<div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even" property="rnews:articlebody schema:articleBody"><p><strong>UPDATE: </strong>The 13 car washes and c-stores operating under the Danny's Family Car Wash name are now officially called Jacksons, reported <em>The Arizona Republic.</em></p>
<p>Meridian, Idaho-based <a href="http://www.cspnet.com/industry-news-analysis/top-convenience-stores/retailer/jacksons-food-stores-jackson-oil-danny-s" target="_blank">Jacksons Food Stores Inc.</a> purchased 13 car washes, 11 convenience stores and other assets of Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Danny's last September, <a href="http://www.cspnet.com/mergers-acquisition-growth/mergers-acquisitions-news/articles/exclusive-new-ownership-danny-s-car" target="_blank"><em>CSP Daily News</em> reported</a>.</p>
<p>With the purchase, Jacksons now operates 214 convenience stores and car washes. Its other locations are in Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.</p>
<p><em><a href="http://www.azcentral.com/story/money/business/2015/01/27/dannys-family-car-wash-now-called-jacksons/22406363/" target="_blank">Click here</a> to read the full</em> Arizona Republic <em>story</em>.</p>
<p><strong>September 14, 2014</strong></p>
<p><strong>SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. --</strong> Two weeks after the owner of an Arizona chain of car washes and convenience stores pleaded guilty to knowingly hiring and employing illegal aliens, his retail sites are expected to be sold to another c-store chain based in a neighboring state.</p>
<p>Daniel Hendon, the owner of Danny's Family Cos., pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to commit identity fraud in August after his attorney reached a plea deal.</p>
<p>The plea deal came exactly a year after federal agents raided Danny's 11 car washes and convenience stores in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area. Although not named in the original indictment, charges and the plea deal were brought in mid-August in an effort to settle the case.</p>
<p>In the plea agreement, Hendon acknowledged that he "intends to divest himself of any ownership, profit or managerial interest in Danny's Family Car Wash."</p>
<p>Although court documents do not name the new owner, reliable sources close to <em>CSP Daily News</em> said Jackson Oil/Jacksons Food Stores will acquire the beleaguered car-wash chain.</p>
<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/dannysjacksonswelcome2-400_0.jpg" style="width: 400px; height: 377px; margin: 5px; float: left;" /></p>
<p>Jacksons is the third-largest privately held corporation in Idaho, and includes the chain of stores, as well as Jackson Oil Co. and Capitol Distributing. Jacksons Food Stores Inc. has more than 200 owned and operated stores in four states. The purchase of Danny's brings Jacksons Food Stores into the Phoenix market for the first time.</p>
<p>Representative from neither Danny's nor Jacksons would comment on the sale.</p>
<p>Hendon faces a fine of up to $250,000, up to five years in prison, or both, and a term of supervised release of three years. Sentencing is scheduled for October, although Hendon has requested an extension.</p>
<p> </p>
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</div></div></div><div class="field field--name-field-op-author field--type-node-reference field--label-above"><div class="field__label">Author(s):&nbsp;</div><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even" rel="rnews:creator schema:creator">Steve Holtz</div></div></div><span rel="schema:url" resource="/mergers-acquisition-growth/mergers-acquisitions-news/articles/dannys-officially-jacksons" class="rdf-meta element-hidden"></span><span property="schema:name" content="Danny&#039;s Officially Jacksons" class="rdf-meta element-hidden"></span>Fri, 30 Jan 2015 18:11:15 +0000Greg Lindenberg40617 at http://www.cspnet.comChain ExecutivesIndependentsOperationsCSP Daily NewsMergers, Acquisition & GrowthMergers & Acquisitions Newshttp://www.cspnet.com/mergers-acquisition-growth/mergers-acquisitions-news/articles/dannys-officially-jacksons#commentsPrime Shine Teams Up With Cruisers C-Storehttp://www.cspnet.com/category-news/services/articles/prime-shine-teams-cruisers-c-store
<div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even" property="rnews:articlebody schema:articleBody"><p><strong>CERES, Calif. --</strong> California's largest independently owned car wash company has added a Prime Shine facility in Ceres, Calif. The new car wash opened December 23--it and a new Cruisers gas station and convenience store are located on the busy corner.</p>
<p>"We partnered with our good friends at Cruisers for the ultimate in convenience. Fill up your tank, get a cup of coffee and wash your car all in one convenient location," said Evan Porges, president of Modesto, Calif.-based Prime Shine.</p>
<p>The new facility is the 16th in Prime Shine's service area, which stretches from Lodi to Merced. The company opened its first car wash in Ceres in 1994. It now has 145 employees in Stanislaus, San Joaquin and Merced counties.</p>
<p>"With the success of our [other Ceres] location, we thought it was time to provide the citizens of Ceres with another Prime Shine option that might be more convenient for those on the other side of the city," Porges said.</p>
<p>Modesto-based Boyett Petroleum offers a variety of products and services nationwide, including wholesale fuel sales, retail and petroleum management services, agricultural fuel sales and the Cruise Americard universal fleet fueling card. It operates more than 50 retail locations under the Cruisers, Boyett Petroleum and Kwik Serv brands. The Cruisers name is taken from Modesto's American Graffiti heritage. George Lucas, who made the movie, grew up there.</p>
</div></div></div><span property="schema:name" content="Prime Shine Teams Up With Cruisers C-Store" class="rdf-meta element-hidden"></span><span rel="schema:url" resource="/category-news/services/articles/prime-shine-teams-cruisers-c-store" class="rdf-meta element-hidden"></span>Tue, 13 Jan 2015 01:41:26 +0000Greg Lindenberg40381 at http://www.cspnet.comCategory ManagersIndependentsOperationsCSP Daily NewsCategory NewsServiceshttp://www.cspnet.com/category-news/services/articles/prime-shine-teams-cruisers-c-store#commentsConvenience Store Products Magazine Releases Second Annual Hot 100http://www.cspnet.com/category-news/foodservice/articles/convenience-store-products-magazine-releases-second-annual-hot
<div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even" property="rnews:articlebody schema:articleBody"><p><strong>Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. --</strong><em>Convenience Store Products</em> magazine—a publication produced by CSP Business Media—released the full list of top retailer-requested products of 2014 in the c-store industry. The second annual list is derived from individual products featured in editorial and advertisements in <em>Convenience Store Products</em>, from the August/September 2013 issue through the July/August 2014 issue. Any product with a reader circle number was tracked, and a grand total of 8,190 requests for information about individual products were made by readers of <em>Convenience Store Products</em>.</p>
<p>Taking the No. 1 spot and reflecting big industry trends was Land Mark Products’ Day’n Night Bites breakfast calzone.</p>
<p>“This year’s list reflects the growing importance of foodservice in general,” says Abbie Westra, editor-in-chief of <em>Convenience Store Products</em> magazine, “and specifically our industry’s hope to dominate the breakfast day-part. One of the primary trends in the industry is a way to boost foodservice programs with boldly flavored, satisfying and portable meal options. Land Mark’s Day’n Night Bites breakfast calzones certainly meet those needs, and the fact that its non-breakfast calzones also made the list at No. 17 further proves it’s hit the mark.”</p>
<p>There are eight foodservice-related products in the top 20 products alone—including the No. 1 spot—and 36 in the entire list. We begin with No. 100 and count down to the top-requested item in the list below.</p>
<table border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="width: 550px;"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Rank</strong></td>
<td><strong>Product</strong></td>
<td><strong>Company</strong></td>
</tr><tr><td>100</td>
<td>Liquid Tea Sweeteners</td>
<td>Sunny Sky Products</td>
</tr><tr><td>99</td>
<td><a href="http://www.cspnet.com/products/snacks-and-candy-products/items/skittles-desserts">Skittles Desserts</a></td>
<td>Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co.</td>
</tr><tr><td>98</td>
<td>Iced Coffee Dispenser</td>
<td>United Fast Food &amp; Beverage Service Corp.</td>
</tr><tr><td>97</td>
<td><a href="http://www.cspnet.com/products/beverage-products/items/ice-sparkling-mountain-spring-water">Sparkling Ice</a></td>
<td>Talking Rain</td>
</tr><tr><td>96</td>
<td><a href="http://www.cspnet.com/products/snacks-and-candy-products/items/nestle-usa-wonka-randoms-confection">Wonka Randoms</a></td>
<td>Nestlé USA</td>
</tr><tr><td>95</td>
<td>Chocolate Bells</td>
<td>Mrs. Freshley’s/Flowers Foods</td>
</tr><tr><td>94</td>
<td><a href="http://www.cspnet.com/products/snacks-and-candy-products/items/mondelez-intl-ritz-bacon-flavored-crackers">Bacon Ritz</a></td>
<td>Mondelez International</td>
</tr><tr><td>93</td>
<td>Salted Caramel MoonPie</td>
<td>MoonPie/Chattanooga Bakery</td>
</tr><tr><td>92</td>
<td>Combos Baked Sweet and Salty</td>
<td>Mars Chocolate North America</td>
</tr><tr><td>91</td>
<td>Snickers Rockin’ Nut Road</td>
<td>Mars Chocolate North America</td>
</tr><tr><td>90</td>
<td>Day’n Night Bites Omelet Wrap</td>
<td>Land Mark Products</td>
</tr><tr><td>89</td>
<td>Frozen Beverages</td>
<td>Insight Beverages</td>
</tr><tr><td>88</td>
<td>Breakfast Sandwiches</td>
<td>Lettieri's</td>
</tr><tr><td>87</td>
<td><a href="http://www.cspnet.com/products/foodservice-products/items/stacker-squares">Stacker Squares</a></td>
<td>Lettieri's</td>
</tr><tr><td>86</td>
<td>Cooked Perfect Bites</td>
<td>Home Market Foods</td>
</tr><tr><td>85</td>
<td>Brookside Dark Chocolate Pomegranate</td>
<td>The Hershey Co.</td>
</tr><tr><td>84</td>
<td>Canada Dry Sparkling Waters</td>
<td>Dr Pepper Snapple Group</td>
</tr><tr><td>83</td>
<td>Chap Ice Revo Lip Balm Ball</td>
<td>Convenience Valet</td>
</tr><tr><td>82</td>
<td><a href="http://www.cspnet.com/products/snacks-and-candy-products/items/cakeballz">Cakeballz</a></td>
<td>Convenience Valet</td>
</tr><tr><td>81</td>
<td>Chill-Activated Can</td>
<td>The Coca-Cola Co.</td>
</tr><tr><td>80</td>
<td>Bottom Dual Coil Vaporizer</td>
<td>CB Distributors Inc.</td>
</tr><tr><td>79</td>
<td>Peanut Butter Brownies (12 4-oz. Display)</td>
<td>Barry’s Gourmet Brownies</td>
</tr><tr><td>78</td>
<td>Baked Goods</td>
<td>Antonina’s Artisan Bakery</td>
</tr><tr><td>77</td>
<td><a href="http://www.cspnet.com/products/beverage-products/items/hard-cider-2">Cinnful Apple Hard Cider</a></td>
<td>Angry Orchard Cider Co.</td>
</tr><tr><td>76</td>
<td>Alley Oop</td>
<td>Youthtopia Beverages LLC</td>
</tr><tr><td>75</td>
<td>Beef Jerky Shipper (48-count)</td>
<td>Tillamook Country Smoker</td>
</tr><tr><td>74</td>
<td><a href="http://www.cspnet.com/products/general-merchandise-products/items/ricola-throat-lozenges">Ricola Cough Drops</a></td>
<td>Lil’ Drug Store Products</td>
</tr><tr><td>73</td>
<td><a href="http://www.cspnet.com/products/snacks-and-candy-products/items/kellogg-s-bear-naked-layered-granola-bars">Bear Naked Energy Bars</a></td>
<td>Kellogg Co.</td>
</tr><tr><td>72</td>
<td>Wild Side Chili Lime and Kung Pao Beef Jerky Flavors</td>
<td>Jack Link’s</td>
</tr><tr><td>71</td>
<td>ICE0926 and ICE0726 Ice Machines</td>
<td>IceOMatic</td>
</tr><tr><td>70</td>
<td>Passport v10 POS Management System</td>
<td>Gilbarco VeederRoot</td>
</tr><tr><td>69</td>
<td>Roller-Grill Merchandiser</td>
<td>Food Concepts Inc.</td>
</tr><tr><td>68</td>
<td>Vision Ice and Beverage Dispensers</td>
<td>Follett Corp.</td>
</tr><tr><td>67</td>
<td><a href="http://www.cspnet.com/products/beverage-products/items/sprite-varieties">Sprite Cranberry</a></td>
<td>The Coca-Cola Co.</td>
</tr><tr><td>66</td>
<td><a href="http://www.cspnet.com/products/general-merchandise-products/items/bic-special-edition-fashion-series-lighters">BIC Special Edition Fashion Series Lighters</a></td>
<td>BIC USA Inc.</td>
</tr><tr><td>65</td>
<td>Sheboygan Roller-Grill Sausage</td>
<td>American Foods Group</td>
</tr><tr><td>64</td>
<td>Fast Fixin’ Sandwich Bar Protein Additions</td>
<td>AdvancePierre Foods</td>
</tr><tr><td>63</td>
<td>Life Savers Berry Bites Bite-Size Gummies</td>
<td>Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co.</td>
</tr><tr><td>62</td>
<td>Frozen Treat Dispensers</td>
<td>Taylor Co.</td>
</tr><tr><td>61</td>
<td>Breakfast Sausages</td>
<td>Sara Lee Foodservice</td>
</tr><tr><td>60</td>
<td><a href="http://www.cspnet.com/products/tobacco-products/items/njoy-vape">Vaporizers</a></td>
<td>NJOY</td>
</tr><tr><td>59</td>
<td>Combos Brand Displays</td>
<td>Mars Chocolate North America</td>
</tr><tr><td>58</td>
<td>Roast Beef with Cheese, and Big Charbroil Burger with Cheese</td>
<td>Deli Express</td>
</tr><tr><td>57</td>
<td><a href="http://www.cspnet.com/products/snacks-and-candy-products/items/nibblers">Nibblers Cheese Snacks</a></td>
<td>Crystal Farms</td>
</tr><tr><td>56</td>
<td>Bananas</td>
<td>Chiquita Brands</td>
</tr><tr><td>55</td>
<td><a href="http://www.cspnet.com/products/foodservice-products/items/blount-fine-foods-corp-organic-soup-line">Single-Serve Refrigerated Soups</a></td>
<td>Blount Fine Foods</td>
</tr><tr><td>54</td>
<td>Fudgiest Brownies Ever—Complete Line</td>
<td>Barry’s Gourmet Brownies</td>
</tr><tr><td>53</td>
<td>Chocolate Fudge Float Soda</td>
<td>AriZona Beverages</td>
</tr><tr><td>52</td>
<td><a href="http://www.cspnet.com/products/foodservice-products/items/advancepierre-foods-grab-and-go-sandwiches">Big AZ Cheeseburger</a></td>
<td>AdvancePierre Foods</td>
</tr><tr><td>51</td>
<td>Radius</td>
<td>Ryko Solutions</td>
</tr><tr><td>50</td>
<td>Softgloss Maxx</td>
<td>Ryko Solutions</td>
</tr><tr><td>49</td>
<td><a href="http://www.cspnet.com/products/foodservice-products/items/ovention-inc-shuttle-oven">Shuttle Oven</a></td>
<td>Ovention</td>
</tr><tr><td>48</td>
<td>Fusion Pizza and Snack Ovens</td>
<td>Tomlinson Industries</td>
</tr><tr><td>47</td>
<td>Next Merchandising System</td>
<td>Southern Imperial</td>
</tr><tr><td>46</td>
<td>Ready Snax Kids’ Snacks</td>
<td>Ready Pac Foods Inc.</td>
</tr><tr><td>45</td>
<td>Snowballs</td>
<td>Mrs. Freshley’s/Flowers Foods</td>
</tr><tr><td>44</td>
<td>RollUpz</td>
<td>Lettieri's</td>
</tr><tr><td>43</td>
<td>Vanilla, Banana Pudding and Orange Cupcakes</td>
<td>Mrs. Freshley’s/Flowers Foods</td>
</tr><tr><td>42</td>
<td><a href="http://www.cspnet.com/products/foodservice-products/items/deli-expressea-sween-co-premium-sandwich-varieties">Premium Selections Sandwiches</a></td>
<td>Deli Express</td>
</tr><tr><td>41</td>
<td>Southern Style Chicken Biscuit</td>
<td>Hillshire Brands</td>
</tr><tr><td>40</td>
<td>Ham, Egg and Cheese Muffin</td>
<td>Hillshire Brands</td>
</tr><tr><td>39</td>
<td>Cornelius Flavor Fusion Ice Drink Combo</td>
<td>United Fast Food &amp; Beverage Service Corp.</td>
</tr><tr><td>38</td>
<td><a href="http://www.cspnet.com/products/general-merchandise-products/items/bic-lighter-flicktacular-series">Flicktacular Lighters</a></td>
<td>BIC Corp.</td>
</tr><tr><td>37</td>
<td><a href="http://www.cspnet.com/products/foodservice-products/items/sunny-sky-products-jolly-rancher-dispensed-beverages">Jolly Rancher Frozen Carbonated Drink</a></td>
<td>Sunny Sky Products</td>
</tr><tr><td>36</td>
<td>Mr. Chill Sugar Free Flavor Shots for Cornelius Flavor Fusion</td>
<td>United Fast Food &amp; Beverage Service Corp.</td>
</tr><tr><td>35</td>
<td>Rolaids Rolls</td>
<td>Lil’ Drug Store Products</td>
</tr><tr><td>34</td>
<td>York Minis</td>
<td>The Hershey Co.</td>
</tr><tr><td>33</td>
<td><a href="http://www.cspnet.com/products/snacks-and-candy-products/items/dole-banana-dippers">Dole Banana Dippers</a></td>
<td>Dole Foodservice</td>
</tr><tr><td>32</td>
<td>Tums Chewy Delights</td>
<td>GlaxoSmithKline</td>
</tr><tr><td>31</td>
<td>Tic Tac Displays</td>
<td>Ferrero USA Inc.</td>
</tr><tr><td>30</td>
<td>Grab-And-Go Shelving</td>
<td>United Fast Food &amp; Beverage Service Corp.</td>
</tr><tr><td>29</td>
<td>Flavored Cigar Singles</td>
<td>Prime Time International Co.</td>
</tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.cspnet.com/products/foodservice-products/items/sunny-sky-products-jolly-rancher-dispensed-beverages">28</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.cspnet.com/products/foodservice-products/items/sunny-sky-products-jolly-rancher-dispensed-beverages">Jolly Rancher Frozen Uncarbonated Drink</a></td>
<td>Sunny Sky Products</td>
</tr><tr><td>27</td>
<td>Kellogg’s To Go Breakfast Shakes</td>
<td>Kellogg Co.</td>
</tr><tr><td>26</td>
<td><a href="http://www.cspnet.com/products/snacks-and-candy-products/items/lemonhead-candy">Lemonhead LTO Packaging</a></td>
<td>Ferrara Candy Co.</td>
</tr><tr><td>25</td>
<td><a href="http://www.cspnet.com/products/snacks-and-candy-products/items/jack-link-s-wild-side-limited-edition-flavors">Small Batch Handcrafted Beef Jerky</a></td>
<td>Jack Link’s</td>
</tr><tr><td>24</td>
<td><a href="http://www.cspnet.com/products/snacks-and-candy-products/items/kellogg-s-pringles-tortilla-crisps-zesty-salsa">Pringles Tortilla Crisps</a></td>
<td>Kellogg Co.</td>
</tr><tr><td>23</td>
<td><a href="http://www.cspnet.com/products/snacks-and-candy-products/items/jack-link%E2%80%99s-sriracha-beef-jerky">Wild Side Sriracha and Burrito Beef Jerky Flavors</a></td>
<td>Jack Link’s</td>
</tr><tr><td>22</td>
<td><a href="http://www.cspnet.com/products/foodservice-products/items/advancepierre-foods-pretzel-flatbread-sandwiches">Pretzel Flatbread Sandwiches</a></td>
<td>AdvancePierre Foods</td>
</tr><tr><td>21</td>
<td>Premium Iced Coffee</td>
<td>Sunny Sky Products</td>
</tr><tr><td>20</td>
<td>IMI Cornelius Viper</td>
<td>United Fast Food &amp; Beverage Service Corp.</td>
</tr><tr><td>19</td>
<td>Spreads Snacksters</td>
<td>The Hershey Co.</td>
</tr><tr><td>18</td>
<td>Single-Serve Desserts</td>
<td>Sara Lee Foodservice</td>
</tr><tr><td>17</td>
<td><a href="http://www.cspnet.com/products/foodservice-products/items/dayn-night-bites">Day’n Night Bites Calzones (Non-breakfast)</a></td>
<td>Land Mark Products</td>
</tr><tr><td>16</td>
<td>FlexFrame 2 Fixture</td>
<td>Harbor Industries</td>
</tr><tr><td>15</td>
<td>Gold and Raspberry Dreamies</td>
<td>Mrs. Freshley’s/Flowers Foods</td>
</tr><tr><td>14</td>
<td><a href="http://www.cspnet.com/products/snacks-and-candy-products/items/warheads-sour-dippin%E2%80%99-pucker-packs">Warheads Sour Dippin’ Pucker Packs</a></td>
<td>Impact Confections</td>
</tr><tr><td>13</td>
<td><a href="http://www.cspnet.com/products/tobacco-products/items/electronic-cigarettes-5">Vuse</a></td>
<td>R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co.</td>
</tr><tr><td>12</td>
<td>Fast Bites Breakfast Sandwiches</td>
<td>AdvancePierre Foods</td>
</tr><tr><td>11</td>
<td>Green Goddess, Protein Plus, Salted Caramel Latte Beverages</td>
<td>Bolthouse Farms</td>
</tr><tr><td>10</td>
<td><a href="http://www.cspnet.com/products/foodservice-products/items/advancepierre-foods-fast-choice-line">Fast Choice Sandwiches</a></td>
<td>AdvancePierre Foods</td>
</tr><tr><td>9</td>
<td>Overhead Pack Merchandisers (OPM)</td>
<td>Harbor Industries</td>
</tr><tr><td>8</td>
<td>Starburst Sorbet Bars</td>
<td>Mars Chocolate North America</td>
</tr><tr><td>7</td>
<td>Caramel Creams Tray Pack</td>
<td>Goetze’s Candy Co.</td>
</tr><tr><td>6</td>
<td><a href="http://www.cspnet.com/products/foodservice-products/items/baconaddict-cheeseburger">Big AZ BaconAddict Burger</a></td>
<td>AdvancePierre Foods</td>
</tr><tr><td>5</td>
<td><a href="http://www.cspnet.com/products/tobacco-products/items/vapin-plus-vaping-line">Vapin Plus Vaporizer Pen</a></td>
<td>CB Distributors Inc.</td>
</tr><tr><td>4</td>
<td>Sandwich Bar/Warmer</td>
<td>AdvancePierre Foods</td>
</tr><tr><td>3</td>
<td><a href="http://www.cspnet.com/products/snacks-and-candy-products/items/butterfinger-peanut-butter-cups">Butterfinger Peanut Butter Cups</a></td>
<td>Nestlé USA</td>
</tr><tr><td>2</td>
<td>Cow Tales</td>
<td>Goetze’s Candy Co.</td>
</tr><tr><td>1</td>
<td>Day’n Night Bites Breakfast Calzones</td>
<td>Land Mark Products</td>
</tr></tbody></table><p><strong>About CSP Business Media</strong><br />Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.-based CSP Business Media, publisher of <em>CSP</em>, <em>Convenience Store Products</em>, <em>FoodService Director</em> and <em>Restaurant Business</em> magazines, is a market-dominant, business-to-business, multi-media communication company specializing in the convenience retailing, restaurant and on-the-go food industries. In addition to its print products, CSP Business Media has an extensive portfolio of online products including e-newsletters, websites, web conferences, CSPTV and other video products, mobile applications and custom solutions. And CSP Leadership Conferences &amp; Events produces more than 20 major EduNetworking live conferences and focused meetings.</p>
</div></div></div><span property="schema:name" content="Convenience Store Products Magazine Releases Second Annual Hot 100" class="rdf-meta element-hidden"></span><span rel="schema:url" resource="/category-news/foodservice/articles/convenience-store-products-magazine-releases-second-annual-hot" class="rdf-meta element-hidden"></span>Tue, 09 Dec 2014 20:23:39 +0000Abbie Westra39960 at http://www.cspnet.comCategory ManagersIndependentsOperationsConvenience Store ProductsCategory NewsFoodservicehttp://www.cspnet.com/category-news/foodservice/articles/convenience-store-products-magazine-releases-second-annual-hot#commentsPDQ Creates Access AMTT N Series Retrofit Kithttp://www.cspnet.com/category-news/services/articles/pdq-creates-access-amtt-n-series-retrofit-kit
<div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even" property="rnews:articlebody schema:articleBody"><p><strong>DE PERE, Wis. -- </strong>PDQ Manufacturing Inc. an industry-leading manufacturer of in-bay automatic vehicle wash systems, announced the availability of the Access AMTT N Series Entry Station Retrofit Kit, which is designed to be a direct replacement for the Ryko AMTT Entry Station system.</p>
<p>The Access AMTT N Series Retrofit Kit is a full upgrade of the Ryko AMTT entry unit and comes with a full factory warranty. The retrofit kit uses the existing stainless-steel AMTT cabinet, cable runs, electrical and power connections and replaces the Ryko door panel and internal components with the bolt-on Access N Series installation assembly.</p>
<p>The new door bolts directly to the existing hinge mount and comes preloaded with full-color graphics display, keypad, printer, communication board and card reader. A new electronics panel and speaker are also included, which bolt to the inside of the existing cabinet and post for simple, easy installation.</p>
<p>Upgrading to the Access AMTT N Series provides wash operators with the same innovative features and functionality as PDQ’s standard Access N Series entry units, including remote programming, day/time-based discounting, buy-ups, discount codes, fleet accounts, support of up to 16 wash packages through Extra Services, ad screens and pay-at-the-pump integration.</p>
<p>The Access AMTT N Series upgrade also fully integrates with the WALS loyalty system, POS devices and Cortex. Cortex will allow the operator to centralize the system’s data network and allow real-time reporting of all wash sales, activity and alert information.</p>
<p>The Access AMTT N Series entry unit is fully compliant with the PCI cardholder-security protocol and the following payment processors and gateways: EFS Net/First Data, Heartland Payment Systems, Plug ‘n Play, Authorize.net and ACI.</p>
<p>De Pere, Wis.-based PDQ Manufacturing is recognized as the technological leader in vehicle wash systems.</p>
</div></div></div><span property="schema:name" content="PDQ Creates Access AMTT N Series Retrofit Kit" class="rdf-meta element-hidden"></span><span rel="schema:url" resource="/category-news/services/articles/pdq-creates-access-amtt-n-series-retrofit-kit" class="rdf-meta element-hidden"></span>Tue, 25 Nov 2014 19:15:45 +0000Steve Holtz39798 at http://www.cspnet.comCategory ManagersIndependentsOperationsCSP Daily NewsCategory NewsServiceshttp://www.cspnet.com/category-news/services/articles/pdq-creates-access-amtt-n-series-retrofit-kit#commentsCar Wash: Awash in Greenhttp://www.cspnet.com/print/csp-magazine/article/car-wash-awash-green
<div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even" property="content:encoded"><p>Kermit said it best when he said, “It’s not easy being green.” Regardless, Naperville, Ill.-based Brighton Wash and Detail Center has been at it since 2006.</p>
<p>The company started out small, installing compact fluorescent light bulbs in exterior and interior can lights. Then it moved on to bathroom vanity lights, updating old bulbs with energy-efficient ones. It was this quick, two-month minimal return on investment that was the catalyst for what was to come.</p>
<p>“We realized electricity was going up, and the easiest way for us to deal with that was to start with the lights,” says Jason Morin, general manager of Brighton Wash and Detail Center. “We had to start somewhere.”</p>
<p>It was 2006 when ownership of the car wash changed hands. Morin knew the company would have to slash operating budgets in order to make the improvements necessary to stay competitive. He saw a monthly $3,000 electricity bill as a problem.</p>
<p>“We were starting out fresh, and so we had to start out small,” he says. “We wouldn’t have survived the recession if we hadn’t.</p>
<p>“We had been paying $6,600 to Nicor [Gas] per month. I just thought: If this continues, we will be sunk and out of business.”</p>
<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/car-wash-quick-tip.png" style="width: 144px; height: 172px; margin: 7px; float: left;" />Initial adjustments in energy usage resulted in large reductions in cost. Eventually, Brighton was paying only $1,400 to $1,500 a month in electricity costs.</p>
<p>Motivated to realize additional savings, the company added insulation in the roof and walls, hoping to reduce HVAC run time. By this time it was 2010, and management had seen $1,000 in savings in the first gas bill alone.</p>
<p>At this point, the energy usage became a selling point. Customers began watching an energy monitoring system in the building lobby. Management also posted monthly gas bills for customers to see. In the spring and summer, some of those bills came in proclaiming “none due.”</p>
<p>It seemed a no-brainer at that point to update the remaining lighting. One of the biggest areas of energy usage was the tunnel car-wash lighting. The first priority was to retrofit the high-output metal halite fixtures.</p>
<p>The bulbs, which were rated at 175 watts, were using more energy to produce heat, instead of the light they required.</p>
<p>An LED option was determined to be the best option and required only minimal modification of the light base. The light uses only 60 watts and has a life span of 50,000 hours—meaning the lights would last for 12 years.</p>
<p><strong>CONTINUED: Wind Power</strong></p>
<p><strong>On the Wind</strong></p>
<p>Naperville, Ill., is a Chicago suburb known for its great schools, good restaurants and high home prices. So when owners presented the idea of powering Brighton’s car wash with wind power, it “met some resistance.”</p>
<p>It turns out the zoning board was reluctant to write the laws required for this type of technology, because no such laws existed. But the motion moved through the zoning committee, and Naperville’s first wind turbine went online in November 2011.</p>
<p>“It was for utility as well as marketing,” says Morin of the turbine’s visibility. Unfortunately, the turbine doesn’t generate enough power to bring the company’s electricity charges down to $0. The 33-foot-tall, lift-style turbine has covered much of the electricity expenditures but left a Smart Meter demand charge of $2,500 per month.</p>
<p>Morin is hoping that with the addition of 36 250-watt solar panels, which will be online in April 2015, the demand charge will be drastically reduced. He’s also hopeful that the company will achieve return on its $36,000 investment in 35 to 40 months.</p>
<p>In 2008, when local conglomerate Nicor Gas raised prices to $1.40 per therm, Brighton looked into a solar heating system, which preheats the water or air before it enters a heater or boiler system. The company chose an evacuated solar tube system from SunHeatSolar, Addison, Ill. This system uses the sun’s heat throughout the day to gradually heat water in a storage tank. The tube system is specially designed for when the sun doesn’t shine. Installed in 2010, the solar heating system paid for itself in 20 months and reduced gas bills from $35,000 per year to $7,000 per year.</p>
<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/car-wash-equipment.png" style="width: 164px; height: 260px; margin: 7px; float: left;" /><strong>Stroke of Puck</strong></p>
<p>Another major way many car washes up their eco cred is by reclaiming or recycling water. With all the other sustainable improvements underway at Brighton, Morin also considered a water reclamation program.</p>
<p>“We looked at reclaim and recycle, and we actually decided it’s greener and more cost-effective for us to use fresh water,” he says. “We are currently at less than 20 gallons of water per car with fresh, and when we took over in 2006, we were between 70 and 80 gallons per car.”</p>
<p>The company was able to achieve this drastic reduction in gallons per vehicle by installing a puck system on the main water line. The installation of this little gadget resulted in an automatic water savings per month of 25% to 35%. Add that to nozzle and controls improvements, and Brighton drastically reduced water usage.</p>
<p>In the end, it’s about community influence and impact. Morin is thrilled when contractors building new LEED-certified homes in the area come in to get their trucks washed.</p>
<p>And while the numbers are compelling, it’s also about the customer experience.</p>
<p>“We have videos that run in a loop in our lobby,” he says. “It’s not just about washing cars; it’s about education as well.”</p>
<p><strong>CONTINUED: Criteria, Benefits &amp; Challenges (Infographic)</strong></p>
<h3>A Savings Account</h3>
<p>WaterSavers, an official program from the International Carwash Association, was developed to help car-wash operators promote their commitments to environmentally friendly practices.</p>
<h3><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/car-wash-watersavers.png" style="width: 105px; height: 129px; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; margin: 6px; float: right;" /></h3>
<h3>The Criteria</h3>
<ul><li>All used water must drain to water treatment or a leech/septic field.</li>
<li>All WaterSaver-eligible car washes must have a backflow-prevention device on the potable water supply.</li>
<li>All spray nozzles must be inspected annually to ensure maximum efficiency.</li>
<li>All water-saving devices must operate at original or upgraded specifications for maximum water conservation.</li>
<li>If a spot-free reverse-osmosis concentrate system is used, it must also be reused in the wash process.</li>
<li>The car wash must meet all local wastewater regulations.</li>
<li>If you run a conveyorized or in-bay/rollover wash, you must use only up to 40 gallons of fresh water per average wash.</li>
<li>If you run a self-service wash, you must maintain high-pressure wash nozzles and pump systems that use fewer than 3 gallons per minute.</li>
</ul><hr /><h3>How Does Reclaiming Water Work?</h3>
<p><strong>Separation</strong>: The first step is to separate dirt, oil and grease from the wash water. This usually happens in a series of three settling and separation tanks: oil and grease separating, general grit and grime settling, and the clean water tank.</p>
<p><strong>Oxidation</strong>: Ozone can be generated by corona discharge or UV light, and is used to rid the reclaim water of bacteria or algae growth. It is created by exposing air to a current or UV light. It is then mixed with reclaim water. (Warning: Ozone is hazardous to the lungs and very reactive.)</p>
<p><strong>Filtration</strong>: Flocculation will break down the resistance of very small, suspended solids, causing them to clump together, making them easier to pass through filters for water treatment.</p>
<p><strong>Membrane Filtration of De-ionization</strong>: This phase prepares the water for the final rinse. Reverse osmosis is the most frequently used form. It provides 95% to 99% reduction of dissolved solids in water.</p>
<hr /><h3>Water Reclamation:<br />The Benefits</h3>
<p>“It’s in the operators’ best interest to use some of these water-saving technologies in the end, because it will save them money in the long run. The more they can do in the front end, the less they’ll spend down the road.”</p>
<p><strong>Claire D. Moore</strong></p>
<p><em>Chief operating officer, International Carwash Association</em></p>
<h3>The Challenges</h3>
<ul><li>The smell</li>
<li>The color</li>
<li>Suspended particles</li>
</ul><p><em>Source: International Carwash Association</em></p>
<hr /><p><em><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/car-wash-reclaimed-water-in.png" style="width: 518px; height: 368px;" /></em></p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field--name-field-op-author field--type-node-reference field--label-above"><div class="field__label">Author(s):&nbsp;</div><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><a href="/profile/abbey-lewis" class=" abbey-lewis">Abbey Lewis</a></div></div></div><div class="field field--name-field-article-summary field--type-text-long field--label-above"><div class="field__label">Article Summary:&nbsp;</div><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even">Taking sustainability one step at a time has paid off for this conscientious car wash.</div></div></div><div class="field field--name-field-op-main-image field--type-image field--label-above"><div class="field__label">Main Image:&nbsp;</div><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://www.cspnet.com/sites/default/files/car-wash-300.png" width="300" height="225" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field--name-field-related-issue field--type-node-reference field--label-above"><div class="field__label">Related Issue:&nbsp;</div><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><a href="/print/csp-magazine/issues/csp-magazine-november-2014" class=" csp-magazine--november-2014">CSP Magazine | November 2014</a></div></div></div><div class="field field--name-field-magazine-article-type field--type-list-text field--label-above"><div class="field__label">Magazine Article Type:&nbsp;</div><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even">Features</div></div></div><div class="field field--name-field-article-feature-level field--type-list-text field--label-above"><div class="field__label">Magazine Article Feature Level:&nbsp;</div><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even">Feature 4</div></div></div><div class="field field--name-field-op-related-nref field--type-node-reference field--label-above"><div class="field__label">Related Content:&nbsp;</div><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><a href="/category-news/services/articles/car-washes-cloths-count" class=" in-car-washes-cloths-count">In Car Washes, Cloths Count</a></div><div class="field__item odd"><a href="/csptv/video/store-tour-royal-farms" class=" store-tour-royal-farms">Store Tour: Royal Farms</a></div></div></div><div class="field field--name-field-channel field--type-taxonomy-term-reference field--label-above"><div class="field__label">Channel:&nbsp;</div><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><a href="/channel/chain-executives" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="" class=" chain-executives">Chain Executives</a></div><div class="field__item odd"><a href="/channel/independents" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="" class=" independents">Independents</a></div><div class="field__item even"><a href="/channel/operations" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="" class=" operations">Operations</a></div></div></div><div class="field field--name-field-section field--type-taxonomy-term-reference field--label-above"><div class="field__label">Section:&nbsp;</div><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><a href="/section/print" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="" class=" print">Print</a></div><div class="field__item odd"><a href="/section/csp-magazine" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="" class=" csp-magazine">CSP Magazine</a></div></div></div><div class="field field--name-field-magazine-description field--type-text-long field--label-above"><div class="field__label">Deck:&nbsp;</div><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even">Taking sustainability one step at a time has paid off for this conscientious car wash</div></div></div><div class="field field--name-field-also-in-the-news field--type-list-boolean field--label-above"><div class="field__label">Also in the News:&nbsp;</div><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even">Include in Also in the News</div></div></div><div class="field field--name-field-top-news-archive field--type-list-boolean field--label-above"><div class="field__label">Top News Archive:&nbsp;</div><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field--name-field-article-keywords field--type-taxonomy-term-reference field--label-above"><div class="field__label">Article Keywords:&nbsp;</div><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><a href="/article-keywords/car-wash" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="" class=" car-wash">car wash</a></div></div></div><span property="dc:title" content="Car Wash: Awash in Green" class="rdf-meta element-hidden"></span>Wed, 12 Nov 2014 19:53:35 +0000Steve Holtz39658 at http://www.cspnet.comhttp://www.cspnet.com/print/csp-magazine/article/car-wash-awash-green#commentsIn Car Washes, Cloths Counthttp://www.cspnet.com/category-news/services/articles/car-washes-cloths-count
<div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even" property="rnews:articlebody schema:articleBody"><p><strong>BOISE, Idaho --</strong> In the car-wash industry, the “rubber meets the road” at the point where the cloth touches the vehicle. Taking shortcuts on quality or choosing the wrong type of material can quickly drive a business into the ground. You might save money initially, but the cloth will clean poorly, fray and fall apart quickly. Quality cloth pays for itself in durability and repeat customers.</p>
<p>“While cleaning is really a combination of cloths and soap, it’s a lot easier and cheaper to change soap than cloth if something isn’t working, so you have to make the right choices in cloth in the first place,” said Tim Biagi, manager of Boise, Idaho-based Mister Carwash—the largest full-service car-wash chain in the United States.</p>
<p>While a whole book could be written on the subtleties of various cloths and fabrics, a few quick pointers can serve to remind car-wash operators of the basic but important elements to consider when replacing their cloths.</p>
<p><strong>1. Cleaning ability. </strong>In the carwash business, this is “job one.”</p>
<p>For general surface cleaning, nonwoven fabrics like polyester, nylon or polypropylene strike a balance of absorbing sufficient water/soap solution to clean the vehicle without getting too heavy. For example, the inherent stiffness of polypropylene sometimes prevents access to small nooks and crannies such as those found around trim pieces.</p>
<p>For reaching into tight quarters, plush materials, like “cashmere-type” cloth, work better. These take advantage of their tufted surface (like the nap on a rug) to squeeze into tight spots. These “tufts” range anywhere from one-quarter inch to 1 inch; the longer ones reach deeper, of course.</p>
<p>Car-wash owners still have to be careful with plush materials, cautions Dan Pecora, an expert on cloth materials and founder of Chicago-based Erie Cloth Manufacturing—a cloth and detailing supplier to the car-wash industry since 1948.</p>
<p>Spoken in famed Yankee catcher Yogi Berra-fashion, “Too many is too much,” said Pecora. “For example, some owners go overboard and use 100 pieces of cashmere, but should only put on about 50 on any one piece of equipment. Otherwise the nap absorbs a lot of water and gets too heavy.”</p>
<p>An oversaturated overhead cloth like cashmere could put too much weight on vehicles and risk damaging the vehicle.</p>
<p><strong>2. Softness</strong>. Car-wash operators know that customers want their vehicles pampered like a spoiled cat. No scratching allowed.</p>
<p>Cashmere-type material makes for an ideal choice as its “fleeciness” washes “cleaner” over metal, glass, plastic, fiberglass and composites making it ideal for curtains and other applications.</p>
<p>“When it comes to softness, it’s hard to beat gentle foam,” said Todd Christopher, whose Classic Auto Wash in Allen Park, Mich., handles as many as 20,000 cars a month. “It doesn’t retain water, and it never gets too heavy. The washing dynamics stay consistent and no swirls are left.”</p>
<p><strong>3. Durability. </strong>Operators understandably want their chosen materials to last a long time. But they have to strike a fine balance between getting their money’s worth and jeopardizing the finish on their customers’ cars.</p>
<p>“Some car-wash operators want the toughest cloths they can get their hands on so they don’t have to order new ones for a long time,” said Pecora. “For example, wide-slit hangdowns last longer, but they don’t clean as well as the thin-slit.”</p>
<p>Not only does “cleanliness” suffer, but tacky, threadbare, cloths reflect poorly upon the car-wash establishment.</p>
<p>“One guy had a cloth that lasted 20 years,” said Pecora. “I’m sure he was happy about stretching his dollar, but I’m not so sure about his customers.”</p>
<p><strong>4. Color. </strong>Owners interested in branding opportunities can take advantage of cloths that match their logo. While it doesn’t have to be exact, maintaining the same hue helps. Quality counts here, as you want to make sure that the color will not fade through use.</p>
<p>“We use blue [cloths] at three of the Mister Car Washes here in Boise,” said Biagi. “It’s not necessarily a major branding thing for us, but we do want to keep some consistency throughout the entire chain.”</p>
<p>Christopher takes a contrasting, but equally valid viewpoint, at his wash.</p>
<p>“Anytime I upgrade the cloth, I change the color to make sure people notice,” he said. “It tells them that I’m constantly improving and keeping my materials fresh.”</p>
<p><strong>5. Quietness. </strong>Customer perception is everything in marketing any service, and in the car-wash business, customers equate “quiet” with “gentle.” A fast-moving, heavy-laden cloth loaded with solution will hit the vehicle’s surface louder. If the customer is in his or her vehicle while being drawn through the tunnel, this can be quite disconcerting.</p>
<p>“Quietness is a big factor,” said Christopher. “Even when the customer is not in the car, you don’t want anything loud on the car; it makes people nervous.”</p>
<p>Here, polyester cloths are considered the best option.</p>
<p><strong>6. Cost. </strong>“Some owners just want the lowest price and they don’t care about quality,” said Pecora. “Instead, viewing cloths not so much as a consumable, but as a capital asset, gives you a better perspective on getting a good return on your investment.”</p>
<p>“I also factor service into the cost equation,” said Biagi. “All other things being equal, I want someone who can answer my cloth questions at 6 in morning. … I also expect quick turnaround on an order, but not at the expense of quality.”</p>
</div></div></div><span property="schema:name" content="In Car Washes, Cloths Count" class="rdf-meta element-hidden"></span><span rel="schema:url" resource="/category-news/services/articles/car-washes-cloths-count" class="rdf-meta element-hidden"></span>Fri, 07 Nov 2014 21:43:14 +0000Steve Holtz39592 at http://www.cspnet.comCategory ManagersIndependentsCSP Daily NewsCategory NewsServiceshttp://www.cspnet.com/category-news/services/articles/car-washes-cloths-count#commentsMark VII Names New CEOhttp://www.cspnet.com/category-news/services/articles/mark-vii-names-new-ceo
<div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even" property="rnews:articlebody schema:articleBody"><p><strong>ARVADA, Colo. --</strong> Mark VII Equipment Inc., the North America subsidiary of WashTec AG of Germany, a major global manufacturer of vehicle cleaning systems, has named Chris Andersen as its new CEO.</p>
<p>Following a transition period, Andersen will replace the retiring CEO, Steve Jeffs, who has been in leadership positions within the WashTec group for the last 10 years.</p>
<p>Andersen's background includes 10 years in various senior-level positions in sales, marketing and management with Hilti, a Liechtenstein-based provider of products, systems and services to the global construction industry.</p>
<p>Jeffs joined Mark VII as vice president of sales in 2007, coming from WashTec's UK subsidiary where he spent three years as managing director. He became CEO of Mark VII in 2011, and after guiding Mark VII for three years, has decided to retire at the end 2014.</p>
<p>Arvada, Colo.-based Mark VII also promoted Ryan Beaty to the position of executive vice president of sales and service and Pierre-Yves Leclercq to the position of executive vice president of operations.</p>
<p>Beaty joined Mark VII in 2005 and has been vice president of direct sales since 2012.</p>
<p>Leclercq joined WashTec France in 2002 and became operations director for WashTec-Mark VII's Canada subsidiary in 2012.</p>
<p>"Chris will be a great asset to Mark VII," said Jeffs. "Under his leadership, and with the support of the Mark VII team, I'm confident North America will play an important role in WashTec's growth strategy."</p>
</div></div></div><span property="schema:name" content="Mark VII Names New CEO" class="rdf-meta element-hidden"></span><span rel="schema:url" resource="/category-news/services/articles/mark-vii-names-new-ceo" class="rdf-meta element-hidden"></span>Fri, 07 Nov 2014 00:53:50 +0000Greg Lindenberg39581 at http://www.cspnet.comCategory ManagersOperationsCSP Daily NewsCategory NewsServiceshttp://www.cspnet.com/category-news/services/articles/mark-vii-names-new-ceo#commentsIndustry View: What Business Are We Really In?http://www.cspnet.com/print/csp-magazine/article/industry-view-what-business-are-we-really
<div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even" property="content:encoded"><p>It’s difficult for companies of all sizes to reinvent themselves in response to changing market conditions. Legends such as Pan Am Airlines led the world for 65 years before increased global competition from deregulation contributed to its collapse in 1991. More recently, we’ve watched household names such as Eastman Kodak emerge from bankruptcy only to report success as a string of smaller net losses while it continues the search for an elusive “growth potential.”</p>
<p>Hindsight being 20/20, it’s easy to find a timeline that documents the blunders that led to each company’s decline. It’s even easier for a college professor to stand in front of a business class and explain how Kodak missed the digital camera and then the smartphone revolution. There’s a lot of logic in the famous line that if a buggy-whip manufacturer in 1910 defined its business as the “transportation starter business,” it might have been able to make the creative leap necessary to move into the automobile business when technological change demanded it.</p>
<p>However, industry transformations don’t usually happen suddenly. The future is always far away. It’s easy to ignore the inconvenient indicators that pop up to tell us change is on the horizon. But how far off is the future?</p>
<p><strong>Brought Down</strong></p>
<p>This is where my mind wanders as I pass boarded-up gas stations on some heavily populated sections of U.S. Route 1 near my home. What forced them out of business? Was it price wars from competing stations on every corner? Was it competition from 24-hour pharmacies on every corner of the next intersection? Was it competition from the new big-box market between the two intersections? Was it that the Tesla Model S stopped at the light next to me, which doesn’t fill up at all? Or was it that too many customers that used to stop in for a daily Red Bull are now having a case of the stuff automatically delivered to their home every 24 days, for less than $1.50 per can, shipped free with their Amazon Prime subscription?</p>
<p>Looking at beautiful pieces of prime real estate sitting there with abandoned fuel pumps, waiting for a new business to leverage the space, forces the question: What business were they really in? Were they in the business of selling some combination of gas, nicotine, food and packaged goods? Or were they in the business of offering motorists a convenient place to take care of errands while traveling? If demand for their current basket of products dropped off, should they have competed more aggressively on price until they closed, or stepped back to re-evaluate the property’s potential to offer an alternate product or service to motorists looking for a convenient place to take care of an errand while traveling?</p>
<p><strong>Sitting on a Gold Mine?</strong></p>
<p>The hurdles in transforming a failing petroleum site are not small, evident via the thousands of closures during the past two decades. But the challenges are not so insurmountable that the only path is to close up shop and wait until a developer willing to take on the potential risk of ground contamination makes an offer for the land. Is it possible that you’re sitting on a perfect stand-alone car-wash site and don’t even know it? You bet, and it’s remarkably easy to determine.</p>
<p>Today’s express-exterior car-wash format can transform a three-quarter-acre lot into a 60-car-per-hour tunnel wash with free self-serve vacuums that the community will rave about. Most equipment manufacturers or local service companies can run a complete demographic profile and investment proforma to determine the site’s potential as a freestanding car wash, but there are five site characteristics that, when present, warrant serious evaluation:</p>
<p>▶ Is the nearest stand-alone tunnel car wash more than 3 miles away?</p>
<p>▶ Does the site have easy access in and out?</p>
<p>▶ Is it visible for more than 400 feet in both directions?</p>
<p>▶ Does traffic travel at less than 40 miles per hour?</p>
<p>▶ Is 55% or more of the local population 25 to 65 years old?</p>
<p>If you answered yes to three or more of those questions and foresee your fortunes diminishing with your current business model, it may be time to ask yourself: What business are you really in?</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field--name-field-op-author field--type-node-reference field--label-above"><div class="field__label">Author(s):&nbsp;</div><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><a href="/profile/anthony-analetto" class=" anthony-analetto">Anthony Analetto</a></div></div></div><div class="field field--name-field-article-summary field--type-text-long field--label-above"><div class="field__label">Article Summary:&nbsp;</div><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even">Industry transformations don’t usually happen suddenly. The future is always far away. It’s easy to ignore the inconvenient indicators that pop up to tell us change is on the horizon. But how far off is the future? And are you ready for it?</div></div></div><div class="field field--name-field-op-main-image field--type-image field--label-above"><div class="field__label">Main Image:&nbsp;</div><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://www.cspnet.com/sites/default/files/Analetto_2.png" width="300" height="225" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field--name-field-related-issue field--type-node-reference field--label-above"><div class="field__label">Related Issue:&nbsp;</div><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><a href="/print/csp-magazine/issues/csp-magazine-october-2014" class=" csp-magazine--october-2014">CSP Magazine | October 2014</a></div></div></div><div class="field field--name-field-magazine-article-type field--type-list-text field--label-above"><div class="field__label">Magazine Article Type:&nbsp;</div><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even">Guest Columns</div></div></div><div class="field field--name-field-article-feature-level field--type-list-text field--label-above"><div class="field__label">Magazine Article Feature Level:&nbsp;</div><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even">Guest Columns</div></div></div><div class="field field--name-field-op-related-nref field--type-node-reference field--label-above"><div class="field__label">Related Content:&nbsp;</div><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><a href="/print/csp-magazine/article/industry-view-live-sword-die-sword" class=" industry-view-live-by-the-sword-die-by-the-sword">Industry View: Live by the Sword, Die by the Sword</a></div><div class="field__item odd"><a href="/print/csp-magazine/article/industry-view-who-s-first-car-wash" class=" industry-view-whos-on-first-the-car-wash">Industry View: Who’s on First? The Car Wash?</a></div></div></div><div class="field field--name-field-channel field--type-taxonomy-term-reference field--label-above"><div class="field__label">Channel:&nbsp;</div><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><a href="/channel/category-managers" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="" class=" category-managers">Category Managers</a></div><div class="field__item odd"><a href="/channel/independents" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="" class=" independents">Independents</a></div><div class="field__item even"><a href="/channel/operations" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="" class=" operations">Operations</a></div></div></div><div class="field field--name-field-section field--type-taxonomy-term-reference field--label-above"><div class="field__label">Section:&nbsp;</div><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><a href="/section/print" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="" class=" print">Print</a></div><div class="field__item odd"><a href="/section/csp-magazine" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="" class=" csp-magazine">CSP Magazine</a></div></div></div><div class="field field--name-field-also-in-the-news field--type-list-boolean field--label-above"><div class="field__label">Also in the News:&nbsp;</div><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even">Include in Also in the News</div></div></div><div class="field field--name-field-top-news-archive field--type-list-boolean field--label-above"><div class="field__label">Top News Archive:&nbsp;</div><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field--name-field-article-keywords field--type-taxonomy-term-reference field--label-above"><div class="field__label">Article Keywords:&nbsp;</div><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><a href="/article-keywords/car-wash" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="" class=" car-wash">car wash</a></div></div></div><span property="dc:title" content="Industry View: What Business Are We Really In?" class="rdf-meta element-hidden"></span>Mon, 13 Oct 2014 21:47:53 +0000Steve Holtz39256 at http://www.cspnet.comhttp://www.cspnet.com/print/csp-magazine/article/industry-view-what-business-are-we-really#comments